Serena Williams did not hide her feelings about controversial Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker.
While she and her sister, Venus Williams, and “Abbott Elementary” actress Quinta Brunson were on stage at the 2024 ESPY Awards, Venus implored sports fans to enjoy women’s sports “like you would any other sports because they are sports.”
Serena appeared to be laughing as her sister was reading off the teleprompter and then delivered a direct message at Butker, who was in the Dolby Theater audience for the awards show.
“Except you, Harrison Butker, we don’t need you,” Serena said looking right into the camera and eliciting laughter and applause from the crowd.
Serena Williams called out Harrison Butker during the awards show.
“At all … like ever,” Brunson added.
Butker became the center of controversy after he gave the commencement address at Benedictine College, a religious school in Kansas, in May, when he criticized the U.S. government’s COVID-19 response, along with a number of political, religious and cultural issues.
But it was his comments about women that drew some of the biggest backlash, as he told the graduates in the audience that it was women who “have had the most diabolical lies told” to them.
“How many of you are sitting here now, about to cross this stage, and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world,” Bukter said during his address.
Butker was at the awards on Thursday night to support his Chiefs teammates up for honors in this year’s ESPYs, including Patrick Mahomes, who won the award for best athlete in men’s sports.
Theatre in Los Angeles, California, USA, 11 July 2024.CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
He was photographed on the red carpet in a cream-colored tuxedo jacket, black bowtie, pinstriped pants and black dress shoes.
Butker also showed off his Super Bowl ring on the red carpet and was sitting a few rows behind Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, who accepted Mahomes’ award on his behalf.
